What is your single most motivation for losing weight...

[ThroughTheLongNight]

And what helps you to stay motivated? I know how to lose weight, and have done in the past, but just can't seem to keep motivated this time.

I ideally need to lose a stone and start off every Monday morning with good intentions and by Wednesday I have given up.

Any inspiration please?

I always know I need to lose a bit when I sit on my older horse and I can almost see him wince under my weight. If he refuses to trot or canter then I need to get a shift on and lose it quick because with his age its not fair to put pressure on his back like that.

I've just started but am feeling especially motivated.

I have tried 'being good' or dieting but this time I have just quit bad food. No cake, biscuits, chocolate or crisps. I don't do fast food often and my meals I'm happy with. Junk food is my downfall so I've just quit.

I've been the same, good from Tuesday to Thursday then bad at the weekends. It's just not enough so I'm just quitting the bad stuff. Full stop.

It's a bit of a change in mindset. Mainly not snacking all the time.

I am coping and the big realisation is that I'm not hungry. It's just a habit to eat something sweet after a savoury.

I'm feeling positive now but am only 3 days in. Ask me in a month!!

theres that's good advise. I think a lot of what I consume is habit, especially the glass or five of wine every evening!

I need motivation too, I do need to lose weight but I don't sustain my efforts and then i get disheartened - it's a neverending cycle at the moment.

I was thinking of finding a particularly unflattering pic of myself and using it as my phone screen saver. If i see it a lot then it might remind me i don't want to be like this.

Then i was going to set some targets, so at end of sept weigh x and then treat myself to something nice when i achieve it.

I did 5:2 from Feb last year and being able to temporarily stop 'dieting' really helped. I am the same weight now as I was last summer (2st less than I was in Feb 2013!) Also, the 5:2 threads really helped as there was always loads of support. I don't fast often any more but I do stay in control and run a couple of times a week. Having chucked out all my larger clothes and bought some two sizes smaller, there is no going back!

I saw a photo of myself. Up until then, I had been in denial thinking that is "was not so bad". It was. That was the cold slap in the face I needed to get going!

Like Scouse it was a photo, one my Mum took. Side angle, I'm not hugely overweight, but the double chin and flabby arm she captured made me realise I will be soon if I don't sort it now.

To look good and draw admiring glances

It was a photo of me taken at Christmas, I just looked awful.

Health. I was 51, BMI of 37. My dad had his 1st heart attack at 54 (my age now) and was dead 8 years later, my Mum had type 2 diabetes and a series of mini strokes which lead to dementia.I don't want to follow in their footsteps.
Everything else is secondary. Looking good (or better), wearing smaller clothes and generally feeling more comfortable all round feels absolutely great of course but good health comes first.

My DS. I have spent my childhood / teens / twenties being the 'chubby' (fat) one in family and friendship groups. I know what it's like to never feel comfortable in your own skin and the thought of him going through that breaks my heart . I need to sort myself so I don't teach him all my food hang ups and bad habits.

Not being able to find an outfit in the wardrobe to go out in that didn't looked stretched or feel uncomfortable and having to buy men's hiking trousers as the women's 'large' were too tight. Fundamentally a combination of vanity and not wanting to have to but new clothes. I had been half heartedly saying I should loose weight for months but something switched in my head and I actually cared enough to do it. Also 5:2 actually worked and didn't make me feel totally deprived so I carried on.
Struggling with motivation again at the moment so other inspiration very welcome though!

Pain
I have damaged knee joints and every pound I put back on is an extra day of painful walking.

1. Don't want to get diabetes or have a heart attack
2. Want to be able to ski properly again
3. Want to be able to go on rides at theeme parks (I adore roller coasters)
4. Want to shop at regular shops

I have just started - reckon I need to lose 9 or 10 stone so wish me luck.

And like Boleh, wear all the nice skinny clothes I have in my wardrobe!

Similar to others. Saw a couple of unflattering pictures of myself. Even my fat clothes didn't fit me well.
My boobs were massive and my back and shoulder ached at the end of every day.
I also did 52 and lost 2 stone. I couldn't lose weight just by 'cutting down' I needed something drastic. It really wasn't that difficult.

Like others, fat pictures have started me off. Also old thin pictures, when I remember how thin I used to be before children.

The effect on my running keeps me going though. Losing a pound in a week is barely noticeable in my looks but it makes a definitely noticeable difference to my running.